2022/23 EFL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW - SEASON POINTS

*ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

A new season in the EFL Championship is almost upon us – with plenty of betting action and market choices for punters to get involved in! Five Spreadex-sponsored clubs will compete in the league this season – Sunderland, Norwich, West Brom, Huddersfield and of course Burnley, with the Clarets and the Canaries looking for an immediate return to the top flight, while West Brom and Huddersfield will look to make their return after being relegated in 2020 and 2019 respectively.

The Black Cats, on the other hand, are making their way back from a four-year stint in League One. Can they now produce more success, and perhaps even return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016? Remember - Spreadex will be best-priced on all Sunderland Match Odds this season!*

In this feature we will be specifically looking at the Season Points spread market – a very popular option for punters who are looking to get started with spread betting. You can check out our full Football Spread Betting Guide here. We will be taking into account recent performances by all five clubs and how many points they scored in their league finishes, as well as looking at some of the outright markets.

WHAT IS THE SPREADEX 2022/23 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON POINTS MARKET?

For those new to spread betting, you may ask “What is the Season Points Market?”. It is essentially a prediction of the points tally of any team at the end of the season. So, if we use Sunderland as an example, their opening spread stands at 61 - 63. You would buy if you felt Sunderland would end the season on more than 63 points or sell if you felt they would end the campaign on fewer than 61 points.

If you decided to buy on the spread with a £10 stake and Sunderland finished on 73 points, that £10 buy at 63 would win £100 ((73 – 63) x £10). However, if Sunderland were to end on 53 points, that £10 buy at 63 would lose £100 ((53 – 63) x £10).

Equally a £10 sell at 61 would win £100 if Sunderland finished on 51 points ((61 – 51) x £10). But a £10 sell at 61 would lose £100 if Sunderland finished on 71 points ((61 – 71) x £10).

Check out our full Football Spread Betting Guide here, where you can also use our handy spread betting calculator tool!

Spread betting can result in losses larger than your initial stake/deposit. It may not be suitable for everyone so please ensure you fully understand the risks involved.

OPENING SPREAD AND RECENT SEASON POINTS FORM

WHAT ARE THE ODDS ON NORWICH WINNING THE TITLE AND PROMOTION?

NORWICH 78.5 – 80.5 points

Since a distinctly average 2017/18 campaign in which they ended with 60 points and in 14^th position, The Canaries have been bouncing between the Premier League and Championship for the last 4 seasons. They followed up that 14^th place finish by completely dominating the league in 2018/19, ending with a tally of 94 points (1^st place). They were then immediately relegated after a disappointing PL season in 2019/20, but then even exceeded that tally of 94 points by once again winning the title in the second tier with a huge 97 points finish. The pattern then repeated, with an immediate relegation back to the Championship for this season. Can they bounce back up once more, and possibly hit (or exceed) the 100 points barrier?

WHAT ARE THE ODDS ON WEST BROM MAKING THEIR PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN?

WEST BROM 72.5 – 74.5 points

The Baggies will be looking for a return to the top flight after relegation at the end of the 2020/21 season, and will certainly have been disappointed with their 10^th place finish last season. After spending the majority of the 2010s in the Premier League, relegation at the end of the 2017/18 season has meant the Midlands club have played 3 of their last 4 seasons in the second tier.

2018/19 was a painful one, with a respectable 80-point tally and 4^th place finish being wasted by a play-off defeat to Aston Villa. In 2019/20, they built on this to earn 83 points and automatic promotion with a 2nd place finish. Then came their fateful Premier League campaign in 2020/21, and then the distinctly average last season in which they scored 67 points. Will there be stagnation on the cards, or will they exceed expectations and challenge for promotion once again?

VINCENT KOMPANY'S BURNLEY AMONG BETTING FAVOURITES TO BOUNCE STRAIGHT BACK TO THE TOP FLIGHT?

BURNLEY 72 – 74 points

The Clarets will be dropping back down to the second tier for the first time since 2015/16, when they won the Championship title and were promoted with a tally of 93 points. Two seasons before that, they scored 93 points as well in 2013/14, but ended in second place. Their other most recent campaigns ended on a much lower note, scoring 58 and 61 points in 2011/12 and 2012/13, respectively, ending in 13^th and 11^th place.

However, with those stats being so long ago, it remains to be seen if they will prove relevant for the upcoming season. Will a new-look Burnley with Vincent Kompany in charge manage to bounce straight back up to the Premier League, or will it be a tough season of consolidating their position and not falling down the leagues as many clubs have done before them in similar circumstances?

WHAT ARE THE ODDS ON SUNDERLAND RETURNING TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?

SUNDERLAND 61 – 63 points

After falling down into League One after back-to-back relegations from the PL and Championship in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the Black Cats are finally back to the second tier and will contest only their third Championship season since 2006. After grabbing promotion to the Premier League in the 2006/07 season with an 88 points, 1^st place finish, their next Championship season was the polar opposite – 24^th and very bottom, and a hugely disappointing 37 points scored. They also had a title-winning campaign in this league in 2004-05, when they scored 94 points.

Similarly to Burnley, there is little recent data to have any certain predictions about what to expect from Sunderland, but their likely short-term goal will be to establish themselves in the league and avoid dropping down to League One again. Could they spring a surprise and use the momentum of promotion to make a charge for the top flight once again?

Remember – Spreadex will have best Match Odds on all Sunderland matches this season!

WHAT ARE THE LATEST ODDS ON HUDDERSFIELD EARNING PROMOTION IN 2022/23?

HUDDERSFIELD 58 – 60 points

Finally, we look at Huddersfield, who have been the most consistent in terms of Championship season appearances in recent years. Eight of the last 10 seasons have been in the Championship, with two in the top flight between 2017-19. The points tallies have been remarkably consistent, going in order 58, 53, 55, 51, 81, 51, 49, 82. The two seasons in which they scored 81 and 82 points were the seasons in which they competed in the play-offs, earning their PL spot through this route in 2016/17, but missing out last season.

With these stats in mind, it may be easier to make a prediction with a general idea of what to expect from the Yorkshire club. However, considering they far exceeded their average points tally last season, punters buying at 60 could potentially make a huge return on their opening stake if they can repeat the feat this season. As always though, remember that spread betting losses may exceed your initial stake/deposit.

WHAT ARE THE FIXED ODDS OUTRIGHT PRICES FOR THE 2022/23 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON?

If you prefer to bet on our fixed odds markets, the latest outright prices for the winner of the 2022/23 EFL Championship are as follows:

NORWICH – 5/1

WEST BROM – 9/1

BURNLEY – 9/1

SUNDERLAND – 33/1

HUDDERSFIELD – 33/1

You can view the full price list for fixed odds, as well as spreads, for all of the Championship teams here.

*Spreadex will match or beat fixed odds Match Odds prices, pre-match, on all Sunderland games against Bet365, SkyBet, Paddy Power, William Hill and Betfair Sportsbook only (via Oddschecker).